The attacks centered around Damaturu but spanned the rest of the Yobe and Borno Provinces as well. The Boko Haram faction has reportedly claimed credit for the attacks, and President Jonathan cancelled a planned vacation to deal with the situation.

Boko Haram got its start as a luddite faction, rejecting all technology developed since the time of Mohamed and angrily condemning the notion that the earth is round. The group began arming itself with bows and arrows before being massacred by the Nigerian military. Since then, the group has adopted more modern terror tactics, launching a number of major bombings.